Stopper for bottles or other receptacles.



No. 835,822. i PATENTED NOV. 13.1906. I L. GANUGGI-GANGBLLIERLA.CAPPBLLETTI' 6L S. CANTINI. STOPPBR FOR lBO'ITLES' 0R OTHERlRECEPTAGLES.

APPLICATION lFI'LED JAN.18, 1905.

rus [wams PzrsRs co., WASHING-mn, D. c.

UNITED STATESv PATENT OFFICE.

LIONELLO GANUCOI-CANCELLIERI, ANOHISE CAPPELLETTI, AND SILVIO OANTINI,OF FLORENCE, ITALY.

STOPFER FOR BOTTLES OR OTHER RECEPTACLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 13, 1906.

Application led January 18, 1905. Serial No. 241,658.

To @llink/0m, it may concern:

Be it known that we, LIONELLO GANUCCI- CANCELLIERI, ANoHIsE CAPPELLETTI,and SILVIO OANTINI, subjects of the King of Italy, residing at Florence,Italy, have invented new and useful Improvements in Stoppers for Bottlesor other Receptacles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved stopper for bottles or otherreceptacles for liquids, the object of which is to prevent su chreceptacles when once emptied from being refilled or to prevent theirbeing totally or partially emptied without any trace of the originalstoppering remaining.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure l is a vertical section of a stopper. Fig. 2 is a front elevationthereof. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the stopper. Fig. 4 is avertical section of a bottle-neck. Fig 5 is a horizontal section of abottle-neck. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of a stopper provided withnon-reiillable means. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the stopper shownin Fig. 6 as applied to a bottle. Fig. 8 is a section on line y of Fig.6, and Fig. 9 is a section on line w z of Fig. 6.

This stopper or capsule," as it may be called, may be formed either inglass or metal and is open at one end, by which it is applied to thereceptacles, while it is closed at the opposite end and may be brokenopen (at the time when theliquid is being poured out) when it is desiredto attain the first object. Seeing that the essential object of thisinvention is that of preserving the absolute purity of all liquidproducts, either by rendering it impossible to imitate the exterior formof the means for stoppering the receptacles without by the act leavingindisputable proof of the fraud committed or by protecting the liquidsfrom all temptation to withdraw same from the receptacles or tosubstitute others, we will first describe, as the most important featureor principle, the system by which this stopper is connected to thereceptacles in such a way that no matter what artifice is resorted toone can never detach it without breaking it and without therebyproducing evidence that the receptacle has been tampered with. We willtherefore describe the lower and open part of the stopper7 by means ofwhich it is attached to the receptacle. This part (shown in Figs. 1, 2,and 3) is of cylindrical form or slightly conical, and this in relationto the form of the ,receptacles with which it is desired to employ thestopper, and is formed at its lower end with an interior circularuniform groove a, which at three equidistant points from each other isenlarged in such a way that it forms three hemispherical cavities b, inwhich three small glass spherical balls c can be introduced. Afterselecting the stopper of the size adapted to the neck of the receptacleto which it is to be applied the three small balls c are introduced intothe cavities b, and by making use, if necessary, of a small strip ofpaper they may be held immovable until the stopper has been applied tothe neck of the receptacle, after which the small strip of paper iswithdrawn and the stopper is-thus secured. The following is the reasonwhy it can no longer be detached: The balls c, which are free to leavethe cavities b and enter a kind of circular ring, (which is formed bythe groove a of the stopper and by the diminished diameter below thecollar with which the necks of ordinary bottles are provided,) areconstantly falling to the lowest point of this ring, and this bygravitation, said three small balls therefore never being capable ofentering at the same time into their respective cavities. Either one orthe other or more than one together will prevent in the most absolutemanner the stopper from being withdrawn from the receptacle to which itis already applied. This lower part of the stopper, by means of whichthe connection of the stopper itself to the receptacle is effected, maybe simply completed by the top closed wall or cover d, as shown in Fig.l,

and in this case it naturally follows that if I one tries to remove theliquid from the receptacle closed with such a stopper it is necessary tobreak the stopper, and if one attempts to again place the bottle in usecontaining a falsified liquid it is necessary to manufacture a stopperwhich is also false. The hermetic closing of a receptacle provided withthis stopper may be effected by means of cement introduced between theneck and the stopper itself. When 1t is desired to adopt this system forthe application of Stoppers to receptacles without a collar, it isnecessary to employ a special receptacle constructed in such a waythatthey have the outlet formed IOO IOS

in the neck, in the thickness of which are provided three cavities e,communicating with each other by means of a circular groove When thislatter is made to correspond with the other groove a of the stopper,they will form the usual ring, in which the small spheres c can movefreely. An example of this form of construction is shown in Figs. 4 and5.

It has been already stated that one of the objects of the invention isthat of preventing receptacles which have once been emptied from beingrefilled. In this case the lower part of the stopper, corresponding withthe system already described for the connection of the stopper to thereceptacle, is completed by an upper part, which, in order to facilitatedescription, we will divide into two parts. The first part or extremeripper part (see Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9) has the form of an S and has ateach of its inward bends a horizontal diaphragm g g', which closes aboutthree-quarters of the outlet-orifice. The second part, which comesimmediately below, terminates in a cylinder h, which changes into atruncated cone '11. This cone forms an angle to the perpendicular, whichenables the phenomena to be hereinafter described to take place and, ifthe vertical is considered, the axis of the stopper held vertically, ithas been ascertained that an angle of forty-five degrees is the best inpractice. In the wall of the truncated cone there are eightinterruptions or breaks lc 7d, &c., equidistant from each other andwhich present kinds of grooves if viewed from the exterior or swellingsor pro- -iections if viewed from the interior. rlhese breaks have forobject to prevent a movable sphere l from entirely obstructing the pas*sage between this second part and the first part of S form. This secondpart contains two movable pieces of glass-that is to say, there is thesolid sphere l and a hollow float m of cylindrical form provided withfour small external wings n 'n' n n and with a slight depression in itsbase.

We will now proceed to describe the operationvof the stopper. ln orderto facilitate the description, we will suppose that the stopper, asuitable size of which has been chosen, has been applied to a receptacleof bottle form, as is shown in Fig. 7. The following is therefore whatoccurs: lf the bottle is tilted to the necessary extent, the sphere Zwill be caused to bear upon the eight swellings 7 c, Sac., of thetruncated cone, thus permitting the float fm to move from its seatconstituted by the orifice in the bottle and to allow the liquid to fiowout. Let us now consider how the apparatus operates under varyingcircumstances in which refilling is attempted. An infinity ofinclinations may certainly be imparted to the bottles while attemptingto refill same; but the cases really differing are four in numberthat isto say- Case No. 1, when the bottle is held in a vertical position: Inthis case the fioat m on account of its weight and that of the spherewhich is above it has its base firmly applied against its seat andprevents anything being introduced. It is necessary to note in thiscase, as also for those which follow7 that experience has demonstratedthat if for Ascientific reasons, if not for a commercial object, whichis not absolutely necessary, it is desired to attain a perfect andabsolute hermetical closing it will suffice topolish the lower base o ofthe fioat m and the opening p of the bottle which serves as its seat bymeans of emery. One might even, if desired, place between the lowersurface of the float and the orifice p of the bottle a sheet of elasticmaterial or other substance, with the object of insuring a perfectclosure.

Second case, when the axis of the bottle is horizontal: In this case thefloat remains applied to its seat and cannot move away therefrom onaccount of the sphere Z, which bears on the swellings ic of thetruncated cone and which can only be displaced by running up an inclinedplane without there being any power impelling it to effect thismovement. As above stated, it has been found that the most suitableinclination of the plane is fortyfive degrees.

4Third case, when the axis of the bottle forms an angle of forty-fivedegrees or slightly larger angle to the horizontal, (the top beingpointed downward,) and consequently the truncated cone is in ahorizontal plane or very slightly inclined: In this casethe sphere lfalls down, and byits displacement it permits the float m to move fromits seat, leaving the orifice of the bottle open. Now supposing that itis attempted to introduce liquids by placing the bottle in communicationwith another filled receptacle at a higher level by means of anysuitable conduit, the following phenomenon would result: The spherewould remain immovable; but as soon as the fioat comes in contact withthe liquid it is compelled to fioat, and consequently to move upward infront of the liquid and arrive on its seat in advance thereof, thusagain closing the orifice of the bottle.

Fourth case, when the bottle is inverted: In this case the phenomenondescribed in the preceding case is accentuated, because the fioat willpresent a larger contact-surface to the liquid which it is attempted tointroduce. All cases of exterior pressure (immersion in a liquid,force-pumps, &c.,) would only serve the purpose of compelling the floatto close the receptacle with greater force. It is necessary toparticularly remark that even by creating a vacuum in the receptacle thephenomena above set forth will be even still further accentuated. Y

The advantage will therefore be evident of basing the operation of theapparatus on the TOO IIO

absolutely novel and original employment of a float and of suppressingin such apparatus all kinds of valves, Which remain inert in contactWith liquids and Which do not sulice to resist the great differences ofpressure Which can be produced by making use of a forcepump. It isnecessary to add that the diaphragms g g serve to prevent in the mosteffectual manner the introduction of no matter what form of implement,even if lieXible, and thus guaranteeing the float from any illicitdisplacement Which may be attempted from the exterior, and that the ioatmay for each special case be made heavier or lighter and calibrated,therefore, for` all kinds of liquids.

Finally, as hereinbefore stated, in this improved stopper We have acomplete apparatus Which serves to prevent the receptacles to Which itis applied from being refilled after having been emptied, and if theparts 1 and 2 are suppressed and We suppose it closed by the Wall orcover d immediately above its point of connection it may be employedmore simply for attaining the object that the receptacles When oncefilled by the. producer can no longer in any Way be emptied Withoutbreaking the original stopper, Which could not be replaced by any otherWithout clearly l establishing fraud.

vWhat We claim as our invention is- 1. ln combination With a bottle andstopper, one of said parts having an annular groove therein andhemispherical recesses communicating with said groove, spherical bodiesin said groove and means on the other part engaging With said bodies,substantially as described.

2. A bottle having an annular groove in its neck and hemisphericalrecesses communicating with said groove, spherical bodies in saidgrooves, a stopper fitting over said neck and means on the stopperengaging the bodies.

3. A bottle having an annular groove in its neck and hemisphericalrecesses communicating With the groove, spherical bodies in said groove,a stopper, means carried thereby for engaging With the said bodies andnonrefillable means carried by said stopper.

4. In combination with a bottle, a stopper itting over the neck of thesame, means for permanently securing the stopper to the bottle, saidstopper having an S-shaped passage in its upper end and a chamber 7Limmediately above the mouth of the bottle, a conical portion connectingsaid chamber With the S-shaped passage, ribs on said conical portion, aiioat in the chamber h adapted to close the mouth of the bottle and aspherical body Z in said chamber above the iloat, substantially asdescribed.

5. In combination With a bottle, a stopper permanently connected to theneck thereof, said stopper forming a chamber h immediately above themouth of the bottle, a lioat and Weight in said chamber, the upper partof the stopper being contracted so as to prevent the Weight and oat frombeing removed and projections g, g in the contracted part of thestopper, substantially as described.

In Witness whereof We have hereunto set our hands in presence of t'WoWitnesses.

LIONELLO GANUCGI-OANCELLIERI. ANCHISE CAPPELLETTI. SILVIO CANTINI.

Witnesses:

SPiRITo BERNARDY, JAY ARLYXHE ZAMMERI.

